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Original · left

Cursor (slide rule)

The clear, sliding runner pane on a mathematical slide rule used to align calculation markings.

First in use: the 1600s
Duplicate · right

Cursor (user interface)

An on-screen visual indicator (arrow, hand, or blinking bar) indicating where user input or mouse interaction will land.

First in use: the 1960s

Cursor / Cursor (slide rule) / Cursor (user interface)

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Canonical todayMeasuring…
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Duplicate share · 12 mo—
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Colour keyGrey · original meaningGreen · duplicate meaningAmber · contested (40–60%)How colours work

Slide-rule runners vs. the blinking bar.

Which meaning of Cursor is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? Cursor (slide rule) came first (the 1600s). Cursor (user interface) arrived in the 1960s. The data below shows which one owns the word now.

Wikipedia pageviews since 2015

Cursor (slide rule)Cursor (user interface)
English Wikipedia pageviews since July 2015 load here.

Duplicate's share of attention

Green line = duplicate's % · above 60 it owns the word · below 40 the original does

Share-of-attention line loads here.

The case for each meaning

Sourced definitions, usage stats and quotes

Original · the 1600s

Cursor (slide rule)

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Duplicate · the 1960s

Cursor (user interface)

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More duplicated terms

Design & UX